2018 DCM (& Limerick & Berlin) Graduates Log: How far can we go?

Comic Book Guy wrote: »

Just a flow on from Coogy's dilemma.
I'm just looking at the calendar and plan on starting a 16 week plan on July 1st for DCM19.

Ideally one would have a half marathon race done in the lead up to this block to give an idea on pacing of the various runs. There isn't really any race handy for me to do around that time so what would be people's thoughts on "racing" a half marathon in your own time by yourself around that time?

Right so I haven't been controversial in ages so I'll start now! Haha. I just recently started following you on Strava and I can't help but notice that all runs are a touch under 8 min miles. They're the easy paces of a certain 2:52 runner. What time are you aiming for this year?

I wouldn't feel the need to do a half before the plan starts. Mimic the race series and do gradually increasing race distances during the plan.

Most importantly start doing genuinely easy runs. It's the slow stuff, both long and short, that makes the physiological improvement which helps avoid hitting problems at mile 20/21/22.

Comic Book Guy wrote: »

Thanks S. Yeah I'm a disaster when I try to do easy runs and it's something I definitely need to work on.

I go out with the actual intention of doing them slow but I start daydreaming and visualising sections of dcm19 with the chariots of fire tune looping through my head and unintentionally i find my pace has increased!!

This lack of concentration cost me last year when I ended up doing the long weekend runs way too fast despite your guidance and continued rule on the novices thread. I really should have signed up to Strava last year and I know I wouldn't have suffered in those last 6 miles.

I don't have a time in mind yet for dcm. I got a 1 33 hm last month and would hope to go close if not dip under 90 mins later this year. The way to do that I know and feel is to follow your advice on the easy pace runs.

Thanks again S, will have to be careful about what I upload to Strava in future!!

No doubt you will dip under 90 minutes! You're already faster than me over that distance and you will get under 3:15 for DCM if you train smart. 2 days with stuff, 1 long run (most of them slow but some with MP miles or fast finishes), everything else nice and easy... 8:30/8:40

Hey folks. Just wanted your thoughts on something if that was ok. I'm looking at the calendar here figuring out start dates for the remaining training plans before DCM. This is my last week of the 10k-half plan.
I have the Dunboyne 5 mile the week after before I take on the 6 week base plan again and then the 14 week marathon plan. I have 2 "spare" weeks in between. Do you think it's wise to time it in such a way that the 14 week marathon plan brings me right up to the week of DCM? It would allow me a week off (of sorts) before starting each of the plans.......
TIA.

Just thought I'd keep the thread ticking over as it's been VERY quiet of late.

Anyone have anything in the diary, race-wise over the coming month?

Am starting with the 6 week base plan next week (looking forward to those hill sessions again!), the final week of which will be done during the first of a 2 week holiday in Portugal. Not sure whether to go straight into the Intermediate marathon plan or wait till the following week when I return from hols. The latter option will bring me straight into the week of DCM.

Anyway, for June, will be looking at doing one of the following:
Docklands 5k,
Clonee 10k
Irish Runner 5 mile (now that I have a shiny new PB to beat! )

Would also be interested to hear what plans others are using for their marathons this year.

Swashbuckler wrote: »

Just to be nosey, which Kerry HM?

The Brandon Bay HM....

Applegirl26 wrote:

Hey coogy, I have signed up for the race series 10 mile and the athletics 10 mile. I have my eye on a half marathon in kerry but haven't booked it yet. The rock n roll half would fall very nicely into my training plan but I just can't bring myself to sign up after last year. I was also looking at the Clontarf half but remember reading some reviews of it last year that has held me back from entering this year. If anyone can recommend a good HM I'd really appreciate it. I don't mind travelling.

Come to Tullamore L HM is 31st August

I’m base building at the moment. Going on holidays at the end of June and then starting into a 17-week plan for DCM. I’ll follow a Hanson plan again as it worked well for me last year but still undecided as to which one. The main downside to Hanson plans is they don’t really allow for racing in the build up but I’d like to squeeze at least a 10-mile in.

For the next six weeks I'll have a few more 5k-10k races, with my regular training fitting in around those.
Then it will be into the grads intermediate plan for DCM. I'll do the Clonmel HM again this year at the end of August. Not sure at the moment if I'll have another race during during the marathon block.

I'm starting the lowest mileage HM plan from Faster Road Racing this Monday (all going well). I'll be starting each week on the Sunday as opposed to the Monday because it will just suit my midweek better, and the HM at the end is on a Saturday anyway. In the lead up to Tullamore, I'll be running Docklands 5k, Day of Irish PBs, Edenderry 10 mile and contemplating something 10/11 Aug as they have tune-up races on the plan. That would be either the RnR 10k (pricy) or Streets of Galway 8k (bit of a trek). Plenty of time to decide on those though!
Excited to get back into a plan

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

Hi L, wouldn't have been this review by any chance?

That was ferocious. Never again for me, I'm afraid - only maybe the winter one, at a push. Can't handle hot weather anyway, but that day was something else.

Quite possibly along with some others!!

gypsylee wrote: »

As most of you know I am a slow runner. My goal for the year is to finish the Half in September in under 2 hour 35 mins. This means a 7.30 minute km pace which should be doable. I have run four Halfs and my PB is 2 hour 36 mins. My easy pace at the minute is a 7 minute km. I ran my last 5 km race in April in 29 mins 35 seconds. What pace should I run my LSR during the plan at? Usually my LSR pace is 7.30 min but as this will be my race pace should I go even slower?

Based on that 5km time the runfastcoach calculator puts your easy pace at 8:13-8:31, so I'd go with that. 7 min/km seems way too fast, where did that come from?

gypsylee wrote: »

Hi A. I probably worded it wrong, the 7 min pace is the pace I find easy to run at, i.e. not out of breath, can hold a conversation etc. so I run most of my training runs at that pace. 8.30 seems like a very slow pace but if that is what is suggested I will try it. Thanks.

Are you following a particular plan for the half?

Helenasca wrote: »

I've been a bit pre occupied with shorter runs and the 5k series and with holidays and time has kinda snuck up on me.

So I suppose it's about time I pick a marathon plan.....

I did hal higdon last year and I know by right I should be doing the boards plan this year..... But I just don't think I could do 5 runs a week, mentally or physically and the last thing I want is to start hating to HAVE to go for RUNS and resent it.

So I was looking at the hal higdon Novice 2 plan (I think that's the name) or is there any other 4 day training week plan recommendations??

eeK I'm starting to think of plans too....... Can't believe it's that time of year already! Getting out training was so much easier last year with the sunshine.........

One of the things that is really off-putting for me with the plans is the set structure. Last year it really helped me to have a target mileage but not a set five day routine where I had to reach a certain mileage each day (except for the long run and a session which were set in terms of miles) - so I had a bit of leeway around when I could get the mileage in.

Maybe you could work around one of the easy days on the boards plan but make up mileage elsewhere??

Signed up today for next week's Docklands 5k. Any other takers?

Hello all. Hope your respective training plans are going well for whatever your target race might be.

I've been trawling through the various running threads here, looking for one that's specific to a 3:30 marathon target time.

I came across one or two that were started with good intentions by other Boardsies but came to a sudden halt and have been dormant for the last number of years.

In light of my recent decision to aim for a 3:30 finish at DCM, it was in my mind to start up a new thread aimed at anyone with a similar target time.

Would anyone be interested in this or find it useful? Part of me is thinking I should just stick to updating my own log and record everything there.
I know there's an active 'sub-4' thread but wasn't sure whether it would be appropriate for me to be posting stuff there, even though a 3:30 finish time is technically sub-4........

Any thoughts on the above would be welcome!!!

coogy wrote: »

Ok, so I was thinking that between now and DCM, I'd like to get in probably another two races.
Distance-wise, I was looking at a 10k (not sure which) and a 10 mile (more than likely Kilcock). After running Ratoath half last year I promised myself I'd return but that would mean two half marathons in 2019.
Would there be any harm in replacing either the 10k or 10 mile with another half marathon?

Another half marathon might be a good gauge of progress from the earlier one in the year.

Rossi7 wrote: »

When are you planning on your half

Ratoath half is on 14th September, about a month after the planned 10 mile. Worried itll be too short a recovery time between the two.
Might see if theres anything in early August.

Rossi7 wrote: »

Frank Duffy 10M and the DCM half are a month apart, most marathon plans have these included in the plan so I don't see the harm of you racing both a month apart

Yeah, I didn't think about that! You doing either one/both?